tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post6929049814610764588..comments2023-10-29T06:41:23.910-07:00Comments on Halfway There: One ringy-dingy, two ringy-dingy, ...Zenohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09058127284297728552noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-16091876887986947782012-08-25T20:45:59.632-07:002012-08-25T20:45:59.632-07:00Yes, the device does MOdulate and DEModulate betwe...Yes, the device does MOdulate and DEModulate between fiber optic and twisted pair lines. So it it is proper to call the thing a modem. It might also be a router as well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-44840914289610420622012-08-08T08:21:57.519-07:002012-08-08T08:21:57.519-07:00Yeah, just like my students do -- except for the &...Yeah, just like my students do -- except for the "discreetly" part!<br /><br />Thanks, everyone, for the suggestions and comments.Zenohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09058127284297728552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-17874231109688101152012-08-08T08:06:18.761-07:002012-08-08T08:06:18.761-07:00I've gone back and forth between having only a...I've gone back and forth between having only a cell phone but now a landline. The landline with DSL package was many dollars cheaper than having DSL from the phone company and a cell phone-alone for telephoning. I own a Samsung Galaxy smartphone, but I only use it as a very portable Wi-Fi-enabled computer. My cell-phone SIM stays in my six-year old Nokia flip-phone, which is much better at being a cell phone and is <i>much</i> cheaper for being carried everywhere out in the real world.<br /><br />I tend to be self-employed (or self-unemployed, depending), and work from home when I do, so I'm near the computer in my living room most of the time. A smartphone connected to the Internet through the cell signal would not change my life much. I've got Internet and a <i>much</i> bigger screen right here at home.<br /><br />As for cell phone plans, I have what I think is the best one for a seldom-used phone, a prepaid plan from T-Mobile. Ten cents a minute, with the prepaid balance expiring after a full year, not 30 or 90 days. Adding any amount to the balance each year extends the expiration for the entire balance (last year's plus the new addition) for yet another full year.<br /><br />I use the phone perhaps 500 minutes a year, so it's virtually free compared to having a monthly-plan of almost any sort. Plus, paying by the minute makes me consider each call before I make it (or answer it). Do I really need to call my friend now, is it worth 10 cents, or can I wait until I get home? Hah, it's great to put a value on such things. <br /><br />Also, I disabled all messaging on the phone, mainly to block messages sent to me by accident and spams.<br /><br />So, in spite of my having a cell phone and a smartphone, I'm still living in the backwaters of the modern ocean of communications. Happily too!<br /><br />In your case, I hope you do get a smartphone with a relevant plan. I bet you'd make very good use of it. Plus, when you're teaching a class and your phone beeps with an incoming message, you can casually glance at it, perhaps respond discreetly with a short outgoing message, then get back to teaching. Just like your students do with their phones!Gene O'Pedianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-5189785453292271002012-08-07T21:45:59.726-07:002012-08-07T21:45:59.726-07:00When I moved to an iPhone - I was hauling around a...When I moved to an iPhone - I was hauling around an iPod Touch and a Motorola clamshell - they upgraded me to 200 minutes because they didn't have any smaller plans. It's a plan for senior citizens, so I'm now technically over 65, though my age is a fair bit less than that. Whatever you upgrade to, ask around to get a plan that makes sense for you. Don't be surprised at some of the weird plan categories. I'd go for the Robot Zombie Cheesemaker plan if had the right number of minutes and megabytes.Kaleberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05283840743310507878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-9576176652981493732012-08-07T16:05:01.621-07:002012-08-07T16:05:01.621-07:00If you get a smart phone it won't sit in your ...If you get a smart phone it won't sit in your car like the old one, because you'll find it too convenient to be able to log on the Net any time you find yourself wondering "Has Fellag been in any other movies?" "What are the words to the second verse of Dan'l Boone Was A Man?" "What's the weather going to be like in Grand Island day after tomorrow?" etc etc<br /><br />It took me forever to get one, but now I wouldn't be without it. Also, my DVR is totally wonderful: I like being able to watch something in the afternoon instead of having to stay up too late, not to mention to go on vacation and not watch tv for 2 weeks and have my shows waiting when I come home.The Ridger, FCDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01538111197270563075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-81797269322926072662012-08-07T14:32:19.950-07:002012-08-07T14:32:19.950-07:00'Tis nice that the landline still works during...'Tis nice that the landline still works during a (lengthy) power outage.Kathienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-74250470996802572332012-08-07T13:28:48.550-07:002012-08-07T13:28:48.550-07:00I just had an ISP outage at home for a couple of h...I just had an ISP outage at home for a couple of hours and immediately thought how convenient it would be if I had a smart phone to check for messages from my brother (I'm meeting him later today). Of course, I could simply call him, but there's no urgency and e-mail is less intrusive.<br /><br />I will probably go "smart" with my next phone, once I drag my sorry carcass into a phone center. But I, too, cling to my landline, which seems to work no matter what other holy hell is going on.<br /><br /><b>plam:</b> hope you copy shows up soon!Zenohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09058127284297728552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-15154803989624493512012-08-07T11:42:21.454-07:002012-08-07T11:42:21.454-07:00Am still defiantly clinging to my landline wall ph...Am still defiantly clinging to my landline wall phone and dial-up modem.<br /><br />Heck, I've still never gotten over the switch to all-digit dialing! How I long for the days of THornwall, LAndscape, AShbury, OLympic, TWinoaks, HIghgate and KEllogg... For that matter, even before dialing, when the operator would come on the line and ïn her nasal voice ask, "Number, please?Kathienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-70225223744277571492012-08-07T11:18:49.224-07:002012-08-07T11:18:49.224-07:00Smart phones are useful for last-minute "plan...Smart phones are useful for last-minute "planning" e.g. finding somewhere to eat in an unfamiliar place. WiFi ability is good too; otherwise I'd be paying way too much in roaming.<br /><br />I'm still waiting for my copy of the book. I think I ordered it. But things always take longer to get to Canada. Should've picked one up while I was in California two weeks ago.plamhttp://patricklam.canoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-10695946620905915172012-08-07T08:17:39.411-07:002012-08-07T08:17:39.411-07:00Hmm...with a little imagination, that Cingular log...Hmm...with a little imagination, that Cingular logo can be perceived as someone spread out against a wall to be frisked. Or for an even more unpleasant experience. No wonder AT&T merged with them.Tualhanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-24353016313614372542012-08-07T05:55:57.831-07:002012-08-07T05:55:57.831-07:00I have a very basic plan from AT&T that I'...I have a very basic plan from AT&T that I've had for about 10 years, and I bought a new phone (w/ contract) in November. For about $30/month, you can have more minutes than you usually use by at least an order of magnitude.Scottnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-17211441028057370292012-08-06T23:10:12.920-07:002012-08-06T23:10:12.920-07:00I never thought I would want a smart phone until I...I never thought I would want a smart phone until I received one for my birthday. Almost 3 years now with the iphone 3g and, I must admit, I love that damn thing. I can look up science things almost anywhere in the world (or, at least Texas to Oregon - as that's as far as I've traveled with it). I don't even have a house phone anymore.Gary Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07139801640348231110noreply@blogger.com